Driving mechanism for washing-machines.



No. 875,732. PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

' J. G. PETERS.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLIGATION FILED APR.19,1905.

2 sums-sum 1.

1H I (11!!! I l 1.1%.. \RV I V I I 2 i E i ilhilllllll INVEIITOR-ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

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PATENTED JAN. 7, 1908.

J. 0. PETERS. DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING MACHINES.

APPLIOATIO H'IILED APE.19.1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES.-

ATTORNEY guide for the bearing-block for the tumblingnately upon theupper and lower side thereof JOHN G. PE'lllltS, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA.

DRIVING MECHANISM FOR WASHING-MACHINES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. '7, 1908.

Application filed April 19.1905. Serial No. 256358.

T 0 all where "it may concern: l Be it known that I, JOHN C. Pn'rens, acitizen of the United States of America, and resident of Fort \Vayne, inthe county of Allen and State of Indiana, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Driving Mechanism for \Vasl1ingMachines, of whichthe following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in driving mechanism for washingmachines of the class in which is employed a tumblingshaft and pinion inconnection with a pin row, and the object of the improvement is toafford a sufficient bearing for the tumblingrod which will accommodateitself according to the various positions of the .latter withoutseriously wearing its guide. This object is accomplished by theconstruction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1. is a transverse section showing the driving-mechanism of awashing-machine of the character stated, with this invention embodiedtherein; Fig. 2. is a plan of the same; Fig. 3. is a detail showing afront View of the intermediate driving-member; l Fig. 4. is a sideelevation of Fig. 3; Fig. is a detail of the universal-joint partly incentral section; Fig. 6. is a detail view in perspective showing theball portion of the universaljoint; Fig. 7. is a detail view inperspective of the socket portion of the universal-joint; Fig. 8. is adetail view in perspective of the shaft; Fig. 9. is a detail view inperspective of the bearing-block for the tumbling-shaft.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views, and referring now to the same:

1 is a supporting-casting mounted upon a suds-vessel 2, and 3 is thedriving-shaft rotatively mounted in the casting.

4 is an intermediate oscillating driving-l member mounted upon a stud 5which projects from the casting. The intermediate driving member has arow of pins 6 in connection therewith which are radially disposed, andalso has a guard 7 which surround said row of pins. A tumbling-shaft 8has connection with said driving-shaft and is adapted to be rotatedthereby, and the other end of the tumbling-shaft is adapted to havevertical play and has mounted thereon a pinion 9 which engages the rowof pins alterso that the intermediate driving-member 4 will thereby beoscillated. An internal rack l 10 is arranged in connection with theintermediate driving-member and meshes with the gear ll which is mountedupon an agitator-shaft 12, the latter being mounted in thesupportingcasting l, and adapted to be actuated accm'ding to the motionof the intermediate driving-member.

It will appear that in. the operation of the driving-mechanism, thetumbling-shaft 8 will rotate as well as swing vertically and that in soswinging the tumbling-shaft will be directed by the guide 13, and thatsul'licicnt play is necessary between the tumblingshaft anddr.ivingshaft to admit of the ver tical moven'ient of the former.

To provide a suitable bearing for the swinging end of the tumbling-shafta bear ing-block l l is fitted in the guide 13 in which it is adapted toslide vertically, and has lateral lugs 15 which conform with therespective curved faces 16 of said guide. The driving pinion. is mountednear the end of the tumbling-shaft with its hub adjacent thebearing-block so that the latter is thereby held in its proper relationwith the guide.

It will appear that the bearing block moves in an arc corresponding withthe swing of the tumbling shaft and is held in its course by theengagement of its lateral lugs with the curved faces of the guide.

The connection between the tumblingshaft and driving-shaft consists of aball 17 rigidly fixed upon the end of the tumblingshaft with a pin 18extending diametrically through the ball and tumbling-shaft, and withits ends protruding from the respective opposite sides of the ball; andthe other part of the connection is composed of a socket consisting oftwo metallic shells 19 of like form, each having a semi-sphericalportion 20 at one end and a half sleeve section 21 at the other. The twoshells 19 are secured to the end of the driving-shaft 3 by means of abolt 22 which extends through said sleeve sections and driving-shaft,the two shells being oppositely disposed so that the semi-sphericalportions thereof will receive the ball 17 on the tumbling-shaft. Alongitudinal slot 23 is made in the semispherical portion of each ofsaid shells and when the latter are in proper position, the slots rangediametrically opposite, and the protruding ends of the pin 18 extendrespectively through the correspomling slots. A recess 24 is made in theouter end of the semi-spherical portion of each shell, and soproportioned as to admit swinging movement of the tumbling shaftrelative to the driving-shaft, and the slots 23 are also of suchproportion as to admit movement of the protruding ends of the pin 18 asis occasioned by the swinging movement of the tu mb ling-sh aft Anotherfeature in connection with the tumbling-shaft is a loose sleeve 25mounted upon the extreme end thereof beyond the driving-pinion 9, thesleeve serving as an anti-friction roller which acts against the guard 7as the pinion travels from one side of the row of pins to the other. 7

Having described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is: a

1. In mechanism of the class described, a guide having curved faces; arotatable swinging tumbling shaft extending through the guide; a bearingblock for the tumbling shaft having oppositely disposed lugs which actagainst the curved faces of the guide; and means fixed on the tumblingshaft adjacent the bearing block to hold the latter in proper relationwith the guide.

2. In mechanism of the class described, a guide having curved faces; abearing block having bearing relation with said faces; and a swingingtumbling shaft extending through the block and having lneans at itsextending end to preserve the relation between the block and guide.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN C. PETERS.

I/Vitnesses:

H. J. LAMPKE, W. G. BURNS.

